Apple's tablet share is imploding

A
new report from Strategy Analytics says that even though
global tablet shipments are rising, Apple's tablet market share
dropped by 20% last year, from a 32.6% share in 2013 to 26.1% in
2014.

"New products such as the iPad 12.9-inch Pro version cannot
come quickly enough for Apple as it needs to re-ignite growth and
demand in its Tablet products," Strategy Analytics service
director Peter King says in the report.

Strategy Analytics
says the leading tablet makers can no longer "rely on inertia
alone" as other smaller players are beginning to offer cheaper
tablets with competitive features. It still believes the
enterprise and vertical markets will offer "considerable growth"
in the coming years, but that's why Apple is partnering with IBM
to make the iPad more business-friendly.

Apple CEO Tim Cook
still believes in the iPad, though: Last month, he said the
company's partnership with IBM could help "move the dial" with
sales, and the rumored
12-inch iPad could certainly improve Apple's tablet market
share, especially if it offers more features for advanced
productivity.